Furniture and clothing support/hanging arrangement

ABSTRACT

A garment support assembly which is adapted to be fitted to a backrest of a seat is described. The seat backrest includes a rear face and a forward face against which a user&#39;s back can rest when seated. The assembly includes a support movable between a first stowed non-usable position within the rear face of the backrest and a second usable position projecting from the backrest. The assembly is adapted when in use to support a garment, preferably a jacket sports coat or similar.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a national phase entry of PCT Application No.PCT/NZ02/00209, filed Oct. 10, 2002.

FIELD OF INVENTION & BACKGROUND

This invention relates to furniture and clothing support/hangingarrangements. The invention is particularly applicable to, but notconfined to, seating arrangements for such as meetings, conventionassemblies, seminars and the like and to the problems faced by attendeesin finding a convenient place to hang garments such as a jacket or coat.

It is commonplace for attendees to arrive at such as businessmeetings/gatherings formally or semi-formally dressed with a jacket. Atsome stage after arrival it is likely that the attendee will wish toremove his/her jacket for comfort. Meeting rooms are notoriously warmand stuffy environments, not sympathetic to jacket wearers. At the sametime attendees will wish to keep their jackets close by for security andquick access to pocket contents etc. It is often the case that jacketsmay be required to be placed back on as temperatures cool.—it is a wellknown source of discomfort to find significant temperature fluctuationsin such as large hotel meeting and convention centre rooms, due to thevarying operation of air conditioning systems for large areas. Typicallyan attendee will (or will endeavour to) hang his or her jacket overhis/her seat backrest, but this can be a problem in many instances andusually has a number of disadvantages, including for example:

-   a. a problem in keeping the jacket in place on a backrest having    rounded upper edge parts;-   b. collar and label rumpling and/or jacket dislodgment with back    pressure from and movement by the seated person;-   c. the lower edge parts of the jacket resting on or brushing the    floor and becoming dirtied, particularly when the jacket is simply    hooked from the neck or collar part at one corner of or a projection    on the backrest; and-   d. distortion and possible damage to the jacket by improper support    and non-conforming shape of the seat backrest upper edge parts,    particularly with back pressure and movement as aforesaid.

ADVANTAGES

The present invention affords the following advantages:

-   -   provides support for garments when hung    -   maintains garment shape when hung    -   prevents distortion of garments resulting from being hung    -   prevents garments from becoming dirtied    -   generally maintains the integrity of garments when hung    -   provides for ease of fitment of new and existing chairs    -   provides for ease of maintenance and/or refurbishment of        existing chairs    -   provides the public with a useful choice.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is provide a means for overcoming theaforementioned problems and disadvantages arising from use ofconventional seat backrests to temporarily support a garment such as ajacket of a meeting attendee; and to provide a convenient and effectivegarment support means whereby a jacket or like garment can be positivelyand safely hung in a manner guarding against accidental lodgment and ina manner providing against distortion of the garment shape.

The invention is not of course limited to use for the support of thejacket of an attendee at a meeting, and it is another object of theinvention to provide a combination seat backrest and garment supporthanger assembly that may be very usefully applicable in the furnishingof such as a small room (eg a small hotel or other bedroom, bed-sitteraccommodation, a study or home office) where wardrobe and garmenthanging space may be at a premium, and in such as commercial officesituations and in restaurants or the like.

Other and more particular objects and advantages of the invention willbecome apparent from the ensuing description.

DEFINITIONS

Throughout the specification the term “garment” will be used to describeany garment such as a coat, jacket or the like for which it is desirableto lay or rest on the back of a seat or chair.

Throughout the specification the term “backrest” is to used to describethe upright portion of a seat or chair having a front and back face, thefront face being the point of contact with a user when seated. The frontface may be padded, cushioned, lined or clad. The back face is usuallyconstructed of stiff, supportive material.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In a first aspect the invention may be said to broadly comprise a coator like garment support hanger assembly fitted or arranged for fitmentto a seat backrest and having a garment support part movable between afirst stowed non-usable position within or in close proximity to therear part of a seat backrest, and a second usable position projectingfrom the seat backrest for support of a coat or like garment.

In a second aspect of the invention there is provided a seat backrestassembly arranged for fitment to a rear upper support part of a seat,said backrest assembly having an upright forward face against which ausers back can rest when seated, and a rear face incorporating orprovided with a coat or like garment support hanger mounted for movementbetween a first inner stowed and/or non-usable position and a secondprojecting position enabling a garment to be located and supportedthereon.

The support hanger is shaped to provide good form fitting support acrossand between the shoulder parts of a garment such as a jacket, formaintenance of the garment shape whilst supported thereon, and in onepreferred form thus comprises a medial support part with an upperprojecting shaped neck portion and opposite laterally projecting wingparts merging therewith and defining garment shoulder support parts. Asimpler lower cost version may omit the shaped neck portion.

Prefereably, the upper projecting neck portion is manoeuvrable in atelescopic-like fashion.

Preferably the seat backrest is recessed on its rear side to enablelocation of said garment support hanger within such backrest recess whenin the first stowed non-usable position; but in the alternative andagain providing a lower cost version, the garment support hanger andmounting arrangement therefor may provide that in the stowed positionthe support hanger lies in juxtaposition with the rear side of the seatbackrest.

Preferably also said garment support hanger locates in raised projectingrelationship with the backrest when in the second position for supportof a jacket or lice garment in an elevated position with the lower edgeportions of the garment clear of the floor on which the seat is located.

The invention includes a garment support hanger assembly adapted forfitment to a backrest of an existing seat or chair; a combinationbackrest fitted with or incorporating a garment support hanger assembly,the assembly as a whole being adapted and arranged as a replacementassembly for the conventional backrest of an existing seat or chair; anda complete seat unit or chair incorporating the combination garmentsupport hanger assembly and seat backrest.

Preferably the constructions in accordance with the invention includereleasable retaining means for holding the garment support hangerassembly securely in said first stowed and second usable positions.

Other aspects of the invention are outlined in the followingdescription.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Some preferred forms or aspects of the invention will now be describedby way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of one preferred form of combinationchair or seat back and garment support hanger assembly, shown in thefirst stored position;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the assembly similar to FIG. 1 butillustrating the garment support hanger in the second elevated andprojecting position ready for use;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the seat or chair with garmentsupport hanger in the second elevated and projecting position;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view from the lower rear side of the backrestand garment support hanger assembly, removed from the seat or chair asshown in the second projecting position;

FIG. 5 is a sectional side view more particularly illustrating theconstruction and operation of the combination seat backrest and garmentsupport hanger assembly

FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view illustrating one example of analternative simpler form of independently constructed garment hangerassembly fitted to a typical existing seat backrest which is shown onlyin part; and

FIGS. 7 & 8 are rear and side part broken views more particularlyillustrating the construction and operation of the garment hangersupport and mounting parts.

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

In the first preferred form of the invention and as illustrated in FIGS.1 to 5 inclusive, the seat or chair backrest 1 has a recess 2 on therear side and conforming in depth and shape to the thickness and shapeof the garment support hanger part, generally indicated by the arrow 3,of the assembly; to thus enable the full stored or stowed location ofthe support hanger part 3 within such recess 2 when in the firstposition not required for use in supporting a jacket or like garment.The rear surface of the support hanger part 3 is preferably contoured tosuit and arranged to lie flush with, or substantially so, the main rearsurface of the seat backrest 1 surrounding the recess 2; so that thesupport hanger part 3 is unobtrusive when in the first stored positionand the aesthetic lines of the seat or chair as a whole are unaffected.This arrangement of backrest 1 and recessed garment support hanger 3provision is also particularly advantageous for application to stackablechair units, as are commonly preferred for use in such as meeting roomsand restaurants or like places where large and varying numbers of peopleare required to be accommodated and the chairs are required to befrequently relocated and/or stored when not in use.

The seat backrest 1 to which the invention applies or can be applied canbe of any convenient or required shape and be constructed from anysuitable conventionally used material or combination of materialsapplicable to chair manufacture. As indicated the invention has aparticularly useful application to stackable chairs for use in meetingrooms, restaurants and the like and the accompanying drawing examplesuch a chair with a slim rounded backrest 1 which may be convenientlyformed as a recessed solid article from such as by moulding from asuitable rigid and aesthetically pleasing and pre-coloured plasticsmaterial, and the support hanger part 3 similarly formed by mouldingfrom the same plastics material. Alternatively the rear surface part ofthe backrest can be formed such as by stamping and pressing into thedesired shape and recessed form from such as a sheet metal or strongrigid sheet plastics material; and the backrest 1 completed with anoverlying hard front pad or cushioned front pad or covering. The latterconstruction can thus enable the application of the invention to otherthan stackable chair units and for example enable application to largerand/or more luxurious executive office and custom built chairs, orchairs more suited to hotel bedroom or sitting rooms and uses other thanmeeting room use. The combination seat backrest 1 and garment supporthanger 3 assemblies can be formed in a variety of peripheral shapes andsizes so as to be employed in the manufacture of new chairs or providedseparately as alternative or replacement backrest components forcurrently manufactured and available stackable and/or non-stackablechairs having separately formed detachable backrest components.

It is envisaged that the backrest may comprise the support hanger and isadapted to be attached to the front portion of a chair or seat by meansof a screw-on, clip-on or snap fit arrangement. Thus the backrestassembly, preferably comprising the support hanger may be readily andeasily attached to existing seats or chairs simply by removing theformer backrest. The reader will instantly realise that the ease bywhich “old” chairs or seats may be updated and existing chairs or seatsalready fitted with the backrest assembly maintained and/or refurbishedwill be extremely advantageous.

The support hanger part 3 is in the present instance of generallycruciform shape with an upper section having a form substantiallysimilar to a good quality coat hanger, with a medial upper neck orcollar portion 4 merging into opposite laterally projecting wingportions 5 for receiving and supporting the shoulder portions of ajacket or like garment (not shown); and with a lower or depending medialsupport portion 6, preferably integrally formed therewith in a plasticsmoulded construction. In an alternative fabricated construction themedial support depending portion 6 can be of fabricated sheet metal ormetal tube or bar form, and on the upper part of which the hangerportion 4,5 is mounted.

The medial/upper rear surface part of the support hanger part 3 ispreferably provided with a finger grip recess 7 to facilitate movementbetween the first stored and second usable positions, particularly forthe preferred arrangement with the support hanger part 3 snugly fittingin the provided recess 2 and requiring to be pulled outwardly andupwardly relative thereto; and the support hanger part 3 can be mountedfor pivoting movement in a vertical plane between the two positions suchas by the provision of a pair of upper and lower support arms or linkmembers 8 and 9 medially positioned in alignment one above the other andhingeably connected between the forward side of the support hanger part3 and the outer rear face of the base 2 a of the recess 2.

In the illustrated arrangement shown more particularly in FIGS. 4 and 5of the drawings, the two link members 8 and 9 are of similar flat metalstrap form each having their opposite end parts provided with a hingeconnection (8 a, 8 b and 9 a, 9 b) defining a horizontal pivot axis; sothat a parallel or substantially parallel linkage arrangement isprovided and enables the support hanger part 3 to be suspended in thefirst stored position within the recess 2 and with the link members 8,9depending from their inner hinge connections 8 b,9 b with the recessbase 2 a and lying substantially flat between the recess base 2 a andthe support hanger part 3. A user can then take hold of the rear fingergrip recess 7 and pull the support hanger part 3 rearwardly outwardlyand then upwardly towards the elevated upwardly projecting secondposition; and on reaching the upper maximum travel permitted by theparallel linkage (link members 8,9), a slight inward or forward movementof the lower end part of the support hanger part 3 to incline such part3 will take the hinge connection 9 a of the lower link member 9‘over-centre’ of the parallel link movement to enable the lower end ofthe support arm portion 6 to abut the recess base 2 a, with the lowerstrap link 9 extending upwardly from hinge connection 9 b and lying flatagainst the recess base 2 a to hold the support hanger part 3 againstdropping downwardly from the second position, the upper strap link 8remaining rearwardly and upwardly inclined to serve as a tie for holdingthe upper portion 4,5 of the support hanger part 3 in the garmentsupporting second position. The lower link member 9 can be assisted inremaining in the indicated upwardly extending support position by anysuitable releasable catch means; and in one arrangement a magnetic catchmeans is provided with a magnet 10 inserted in a medial recess in therecess base 2 a and strategically positioned to align with and beengaged by the metal lower link member 9 when in the second supportposition. The same magnet 10 can be dual purpose and also positioned formagnetic engagement by the upper metal link member 8, or alternatively asecond alignable magnet 10 a inserted medially of the hanger support 3,when the support hanger part 3 is no longer required to be used and isreturned by downward hinging movement to the first stored or stowedposition locating in the backrest recess 2, with the link members 8 and9 depending from their inner hinge connections 8 b, 9 b and lying flatagainst the recess base 2 a the support hanger part 3 being thusreleased held in the stowed position against outward movement as may beotherwise occur with chair movement, and gravitational forces in thecase of the backrest 3 being inclined rearwardly as is usuallypreferred. Other releasable catch means can of course be provided, butthe aforementioned single magnet catch means is a simple effective andeconomic arrangement.

To assist in providing a slim line construction the hanger part 3 ispreferably provided with a vertically disposed longitudinal medialslot(s) or recess(es) 11 of a width enabling clearance fit of the upperand lower link members 8,9 therein when the hanger part 3 locates in thefirst stored position—the outer hinge connections 8 a and 9 a beingfitted within such slot(s) or recess(es) 11.

Other means for mounting and supporting the support hanger part 3 formovement between the first stored and second usable positions can beprovided; and it is envisaged for example that where elevation of thesupport hanger part 3 is not necessary for floor clearance by asupported jacket or like garment (eg as in the case of a high backedchair), the lower support part 6 and connecting parallel link members8,9 can be dispensed with and the support hanger part 3 can have asubstantially straight lower edge portion which is directly hingedlyconnected to the backrest, so that the upper part incorporating theneck/collar 4 and shoulder wing portions 5 is simply pulled outwardly orrearwardly from the first stored/stowed position to the second usableposition. Restricted movement hinge means and/or an upper flexible orhinged tie member extending between the backrest recess base 2 a andinner forward side of the support hanger part 3, can be provided to holdthe hanger part 3 in the stored or stowed position within its recess 2.

A further alternative arrangement providing for an elevated secondposition envisages mounting of the upper part 4,5 of the hanger part 3on a medial depending rod or bar which is slidably located in asupporting guide part mounted on or incorporated in the backrest 1; thusenabling the hanger part 3 to be slid upwardly or downwardly between thetwo positions. Two spaced depending rod or bar supports and matingsupporting guide parts can be alternatively provided.

For non-stackable existing chair constructions and/or where theconstructions do not conveniently permit detachment of the existingbackrest and replacement by a combination backrest and garment supportin accordance with the invention; it is envisaged that the combinationassembly of the invention can be arranged for fitment such as by screwsto the existing chair backrest. Also, where the invention is applied tosuch as a hotel or other bedroom chair and clothes hanging space is at apremium, the rear lower side of the garment support hanger part 3 can beprovided with such as a trouser hanger bar and/or hook or clip means forskirt or trouser support.

Referring now to FIGS. 6,7 and 8 of the drawings, in one alternativeform of the invention there is provided an independently constructedgarment support hanger unit (generally indicated by the arrow 12) whichcan be factory fitted to the backrest parts of complete new chairs or tonew replacement chair backs intended for fitment to existing chairs, orwhich can be sold independently for retro-fitment to the existingbackrest parts of existing chairs.

The hanger unit 12 includes a strong base mounting 13 which in thisinstance comprises a squared mounting plate 13 a provided with clearanceholes 14 for receiving mounting screws bolts or like fasteners andsecuring the unit 12 to the medial lower rear part of a chair backrest15; and a-pair of spaced vertical flange parts 16 which projectrearwardly from the mounting plate 13 a to have a hanger support arm 17project upwardly from a lower end pivotal connection 18 with the flangeparts 16. The support arm being movable about a horizontal pivot axis 18a parallel with the mounting plate 13 a and associated portion of thechair backrest 15, for movement of the support arm 17 and upper garmenthanger 19 thereon between a first inner stowed position (as shown infull line in FIGS. 6 and 8), and a second outwardly inclined projectingposition ready for use, and vice-versa. The pivot connection 18 can besimply a transverse tubular sleeve 18 b fixedly secured (eg by weldingto the lower end of the support arm 17 located about a bolt shank orpivot pin (defining the pivot axis 18 a) secured to and extendingbetween the mounting flange parts 16; and a limiting stop member 20 issecured to and projects inwardly below the sleeve 18 b to abut themounting plate 13 a and limit the outward pivoting movement of thesupport arm 17. The base mounting 13 may include a detachable cover part21 to conceal the mounting plate 13 a, flanges 16, pivot connection 18and limiting stop 20; and such cover part 21, which has an upper squaredclearance aperture 21 a through which the support arm 17 projects, maybe securable in position by having its upper inner edge part 21 barranged for hooked engagement over upper projections 13 b of themounting plate 13 a and a base wall 13 c which locates under a baseprojection or flange 13 c of the mounting 13 for securing thereto, suchas by screws or a snap-fit arrangement. Other base mounting 13 andconcealing cover/housing arrangements can of course be employed.

Means are preferably provided to normally retain the support arm 17 andhanger 19 in the inner stowed position adjacent the rear face of thechair backrest 15, when not required for garment support; and in onearrangement, with the support arms 17 being constructed from steel, amagnet 22 is fixedly mounted on the upper rear face part of the mountingplate 13 a so that support arm 17 can abut against the magnet 22(fordetachable retention thereby) when in the inner pivoted position. Aspring catch or other releasable retaining means can alternatively beemployed, or it is envisaged that the support arm 17 can be springbiased towards the inner stowed position and held in the outer positiononly when the hanger 19 thereof is supporting a jacket or like garmentthe weight of the garment overcoming the spring bias.

In the illustrated form of FIG. 6, the hanger 19 is of simple curvedtube form, and may be curved inwardly to conform with a curved chairbackrest 15 as well as downward either side of the support arm 17 intypical simple garment hanger form; but of course a more particularlyshaped hanger 19 with a medial shaped neck support part can be provided(eg in the manner similar to that described with reference to FIGS. 1 to4. Likewise a simpler form of hanger or garment support part can beemployed in the earlier described recessed fitting arrangement.

Preferably, the hanger 19 is arranged to be elevated relative to thechair backrest 15 when the unit 12 is in use for garment support, withthe support arm 17 pivoted outwardly about its pivot connection 18; andthe support arm 17 can be of two part telescopic construction withreleasable catch or latch means to hold the support arm 17 in theextended position.

In the illustrated form the support arm 17 is of flattened tubular steelconstruction with a first smaller cross section inner lower part 17 asecured to and extending upwardly from the pivot connection 18, and alarger cross section upper and outer part 17 b which is of complementarycross sectional shape to the inner lower part 17 a so as to be slidablylocated thereover for upward extension and downward retraction relativethereto. The garment hanger 19 is mounted on the upper end of the outerpart 17 b; and the releasable catch means comprises an outwardly springbiased button 23 located as a close sliding fit within an aperture 24 inan upper part of the rear outer wall of the support arm lower part 17 a,with an inner compression spring 25 providing the outward spring bias.

The lower end part of the rear wall of the support arm upper and outerpart 17 b is provided with a smaller aperture 26 alignable with thebutton 23 and within which a rounded (or bevel edged) projecting portion23 a of the button can locate under the spring bias when the support arm17 is extended and to thus hold the support arm 17 in the extendedposition. For retraction and stowing of the support arm 17 when the unit12 is not required to support a garment, inward thumb pressure on thebutton projection 23 a against the spring bias will release suchprojection 23 a from its engagement in aperture 25 to enable the supportarm outer part 17 b to be slid downwardly over and relative to thesupport arm lower part 17 a. Other releasable catch means can of coursebe employed.

Some preferred aspects of the invention have been described andillustrated by way of example, but it will be appreciated that othervariations of and modifications to the invention can take place withoutdeparting therefrom.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification the word“comprise” and variations of that word, such as “comprises” and“comprising”, are not intended to exclude other additives, components,integers or steps.

We claim:
 1. A support hanger assembly adapted to be fitted to abackrest of a seat, and wherein the backrest comprises a rear face and aforward face, the forward face against which a user's back can rest whenseated, the assembly comprising a support means movable between a firststowed non-usable position within the rear face of the backrest and, asecond usable position projecting outwards and upwards from the backrestin order to support a garment when in use, and further wherein thesupport hanger means comprises a plurality of linking arms mediallypositioned substantially in alignment one above the other and, a hingemeans, hingeably connecting said linking arms between the forward faceof the support hanger assembly and the outer rear face of a baserecessed within the rear face of a seat or chair backrest and whereinthe linking arms are adapted to work co-operatively to enable thesupport hanger to move-between the first stowed non-usable position andthe second usable position.
 2. A seat backrest assembly arranged forfitment to the rear face of a backrest wherein said backrest comprises aforward face of a seat against which a user's back can rest when seated,the backrest assembly comprising a rear face incorporating a supporthanger adapted to be movable between a first stowed non-usable positionand a second usable position projecting outwards and upwards from thebackrest and wherein the assembly enables a garment to be positioned andsupported thereon, and wherein the rear face of the seat backrest isrecessed to enable a support hanger to be housed within said backrestrecess when the support hanger is in said first stowed non-usableposition and the support means hanger comprises: a plurality of linkingarms medially positioned substantially in alignment one above the otherand a hinge means, hingeably connecting said linking arms between theforward face of the support hanger and the outer rear face of a baserecessed within the rear face of the backrest and wherein the linkingarms are adapted to work co-operatively to enable support hanger to movebetween the first stowed non-usable position and the second usableposition.
 3. The seat backrest assembly according to claim 2 wherein thesupport hanger is configured to provide form-fitting support across andbetween the shoulder portions of a garment and, in use, is adapted tomaintain the garment's shape.
 4. The seat backrest assembly according toclaim 3 comprising a medial support portion.
 5. The seat backrestassembly according to claim 4 wherein the medial support portioncomprises an upper projecting shaped neck portion and a plurality ofopposite laterally projecting wing portions co-operating therewith, thewing portions adapted to support the shoulder portions of a garment. 6.The seat backrest assembly according to claim 5 wherein the upperprojecting neck portion is telescopically maneuverable.
 7. The seatbackrest assembly according to 5 wherein the medial support portion theneck portion is absent.
 8. The seat backrest assembly according claim 7wherein the backrest recess comfort in depth and shape to the thicknessand shape of the support hanger.
 9. The seat backrest assembly accordingto claim 7 wherein the backrest recess conforms in depth and shape tothe thickness and shape of the support hanger and wherein the supporthanger portion is configured to lie substantially flush with the rearface of the recessed seat backrest when in the stowed non-usableposition.
 10. The seat backrest assembly according to claim 9 whereinthe support hanger and mounting arrangement therefore is adapted suchthat when in use the first stowed non-usable position the support hangerlies adjacent with the rear face of the backrest.
 11. The seat backrestassembly according to claim 10 wherein the support hanger is located,when in the second usable position, in a raised projecting altituderelative to the backrest to support a garment in an elevated positionsufficient to allow the lower edge portions of said garment to remainclear of the floor on which the seat is located.
 12. The seat backrestassembly comprising the seat according to claim
 11. 13. A seatcomprising the support hanger assembly according to claim 1.